A joy wrapped in fur

A huge bundle of mischief 

And their tail wagged for hours through the day

They would bound, and they’d bounce 

Through the trees and green hillside

In a never-tiring circle of play

I knew that in coming, there would be a leaving

A time when my shadow would part

And along with deep longing 

The memories and missing

There’s a paw-shaped ache in my heart

John Regan, 2025.